Sir Richard Branson will decide after the final race of the ­season whether his Virgin Group will continue to sponsor Brawn GP.

Virgin agreed to back the team on the eve of the season in March, just weeks after Brawn secured their survival in the wake of Honda pulling out of the sport.

The decision paid off as Jenson ­Button took the drivers’ championship for Brawn, with his efforts and those of team-mate Rubens Barrichello also enough to claim the constructors’ title.

The season ends on Sunday week in Abu Dhabi, amid speculation Virgin could switch allegiance to the new Manor outfit next season.

Branson said: ‘It was the perfect relationship. Virgin loves to support an underdog but they are now one of the most expensive teams and certainly not underdogs any more.

‘But we will make an announcement in the next month. At the moment we just want to ­celebrate.

‘We were absolutely delighted to get involved when they didn’t have any money. It enabled them to prove they had a great car and great drivers.’

The team’s success has come as a ­surprise to ­Branson, who added: ‘I don’t think in our wildest dreams we thought this would happen.

‘I knew they had a good car, as I know one of the test drivers. But when I got on a plane to ­Melbourne with some Virgin stickers in my bag, having just shaken hands and given them some money, the last thing I expected was a first and second in the championship.’

THE FIA has agreed in principle to switch the dates of grands prix in Abu Dhabi and Brazil next year. The penultimate race is now due to run in Abu Dhabi on October 31, with Interlagos to follow on November 14. Elsewhere the Monaco Grand Prix has been moved forward a week to May 16.